Gaseous fuel burner and flame spreader



April 17, 1951 VAN TUYL 2,549,347

GASEOUS FUEL BURNER AND FLAME SPREADER Filed Dec. 4, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l A 7 7 ORA/E76.

April 17, 1951 J, E. VAN TUYL 2,549,347

GASEOUS FUEL BURNER AND FLAME SPREADER Filed Dec. 4, 1945 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. JOHN E.VAN TUYL ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 17, 1951 GASEOUS FUEL BURNER AND FLAME SPREADER John E. Van Tuyl, Cleveland, Ohio Application December 4, 1945, Serial No. 632,750

7 Claims.

The present improvements, relating as indicated to gaseous fuel burners, have more particular regard to burners suitable for use in heating furnaces of thedomestic type whether hot air, Water or steam.

One principal object is to provide a construction of burner which may be readily installed in existing furnaces of the type in question so as to convert the same to the use of gas as a fuel instead of coal. A further object is to provide a burner which thus installed will have a high degree of efiiciency, i. e. make economical use of such gaseous fuel. Still further objects are to provide a burner in which adjustment of the fuel mixture, i. e. of the proportion of air and gas, may be readily made, as well as so to construct the component parts of the burner and of the fuel supply therefor so that the burner may be readily installed in existing furnaces.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

.The annexed drawing and the following de scription set forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a burner embodying my present improvements;

Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section of the same as indicated by the line 2-2 on Fi 1;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the burner proper with certain parts removed, the plane from which the view is taken being indicated by the line 3-3 Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is partly a side elevation and partly a broken sectional view of the portion of the burner thus shown in Fig. 3, the plane of the section being indicated by the line 4--4 Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view of the burner complete taken on a plane at right angles to that of Fig. 2, as indicated by the line 5-5 on said figure, the plane of the section being similarly indicated on Figs. 3 and 4 Fig. 6 is a bottom plan View of the portion of the burner proper which lies above the plane indicated by the line 33 Fig. 2;

Fig. '7 is a transverse sectional view of the burner similar to that of Fig. 5 but showing a modification. in construction; and

I Fig. 8 is a top plan view similar to that of Fig. 3 but likewise showing such modification.

The burner proper, comprising the right hand portion of Figs. 1 and 2, is designed to rest upon a support I placed on the floor 2 of the furnace chamber in which such burner willreplace the grate bars wherewith such furnace is fitted when designed to burn coal or other hard fuel. The lower portion of such furnace chamber, i. e. that the ready connection therewith of the gas supply duct or tube 5.

The upper end of the duct or column 4 terminates approximately in the plane of partition 3 and. is formed a short distance therebelow with an encircling flange 6 on which rests a circular metal plate 1 with which the periphery of such partition closely contacts. Thi plate, which constitutes the base of the burner proper, is skeletonized, being formed with two series of circularly arranged openings 8 and 9 and is provided adjacent its outer edge with an upstanding flange I 9. Seated on such base plate so as to cover the .openings 8 therein but leave substantially uncovered the openings 9, is an annular deflector plate I l of substantial thickness, preferably made of refractory material, the inner circular wall of such plate serving to direct upwardly the stream of air that enters the burner through the openings 9 in the base plate when the burner is in operation.

Also supported on the upper end of the duct or column 4 is a second deflector member l2 of general inverted conical form which will preferably be made of cast metal, said member having a plurality of outwardly directed ribs I3 formed with notches l4 adjacent their lower ends. These notches are adapted to rest on the upper end of .the duct or column 4 and thus provide a detachable connection between the member and such duct. On its upper face said member 12 i formed with a central boss or projection I5 adapted to fit a corresponding central opening in an upper deflector plate Hi. The latter, which like the lower deflector plate II, will preferably by made of refractory material, is of general disc shape, having approximately the same diameter as said lower plate but is of substantially greater thickness so that the lateral wall thereof will surround the upper portion of member I2, leaving a defined annular opening between its lower face and the upper face of said plate I I. As best shown in Fig. 6, such lateral dependin portion of plate 16 is grooved so as to leave a series of ribs ll corresponding in number and circumferential disposition with the ribs I3 on said member. However, the outer portions of said ribs H are laterally displaced from. the planes of the corresponding ribs I3, i. e. instead of lying in a radial plane they are curved, all in the same direction, on helical lines. Furthermore, the bottoms of the grooves between said ribs H= are curved in an axial plane to correspond with the curvature of the sides of member I2. Thus it will beseen that when plate 16 is properly placed on the member I2 the grooves on the under face thereof will form continuations of the grooves provided between the ribs I3 on said member, but such continuations are both inclined, or rather curved, in a horizontal plane and open downwardly directly above the upper face of deflector plate I l.

The depending rim of deflector I! is cut away opposite the outer, wide end of each groove thus formed on its under face so that a series of lateral openings or rather notches is provided around the lower edge of said deflector, in addition to the annular space between the latter and the lower deflector II.

In operation, gaseous fuel in the form of a properly proportioned mixture of gas and air will be supplied to the burner through conduit 5 by means of an inspirator tube connected with the inlet end of said conduit. The outer end of said tube 20 is formed with a curved flange 2! to which is attached in spaced relation the inspirator body 22 to which gas under pressure is supplied through a laterally connected pipe or duct 23. For the purpose of thus attaching said inspirator body to the flange 2! of tube 21] said body is formed with a laterally projecting flange 24 of corresponding diameter, said flange 24 being then attached to flange 2! in desired axial adjustment by means of threaded studs 25.

The body 22 is also formed with an exteriorly threaded projecting portion 25 which extends into the space thus left between the flanges 2i and 24. Mounted on such threaded extension is a disc or annular plate 2! which upon being rotated is advanced or retracted and so serves as a shutter to control the annular space between the same and flange 2i and thus the volume of air which is allowed to enter conduit 20. Such extension 28 of the inspirator body is also provided at its outer end with an inwardly directed, perforated valve seat 28 wherewith a valve carried by a valve stem '29 is adapted to cooperate. The outer end of said stem projects through the opposite end of the inspirator body and is provided with a handle 38 for the purpose of adjusting the valve to its seat.

Attached to conduit 4 by means of a bracket adjacent its upper end is a thermo-couple 36 and an automatic pilot light 31 which project through one of the openings 9 in plate 'I so as to extend beyond the discharge end of said conduit into the space bounded by plate I I.

The modification illustrated in Figs. '7 and 8 relates to the provision of water heating means in conjunction with a gaseous fuel burner of the general construction just described, the object being to adapt such burner to this further purpose and thus avoid the necessity for operating a separate water heating apparatus when the burner is in use.

For the purpose in question, instead of a supporting plate 1 of the form previously described, I employ a plate 40 of the same general form and designed to be mounted in the same manner on the discharge end of conduit 4. However, such plate, which will be preferably made of cast metal, will have its peripheral portion cored to provide a circular passage 4!. The latter is interrupted at one point, i. e. does not extend entirely around the rim of the plate end and the respective ends of the passage are provided with connecting openings for water supply and return passages 42 and 13. The latter it will be understood will in turn be connected in familiar manner with a hot water tank or, should it be desired, with a hot water radiator, or both.

Having thus described the construction of the several component parts of my improved burner, the operation thereof may be readily set forth. As previously indicated, the gaseous fuel is supplied under suitable pressure through pipe 23 to inspirator body 22, being thence discharged through the restricted oriflce in valve seat 28 centrally of the outer end of conduit 20. The action of such stream will be to draw in the predetermined amount of air through the adjusted annular space that is left between shutter .21 and flange 2! on such outer end of conduit 20. The gas and air thus supplied will be thoroughly intermixed by the time the combined stream reaches the upper end of conduit 4 and there strikes the lower pointed end of conical spreader I2. The effect of the ribs on the latter, combined with that of the corresponding ribs on the upper deflector plate It will be to sub-divide and direct such stream notonly outwardly and downwardly toward the lower plate ll, but also due to the curvature in a horizontal plane of the ribs and thus of the grooves in which the gaseous mixture flows, a definite swirling effect will be imparted to the sub-divided streams as they emerge from such grooves.

As the same time as the gaseous mixture is discharged in the manner just described from the upper end of conduit 4, a supplemental supply of air is drawn through the openings 9 in plate '5 and mingled therewith to provide the desired fully combustible mixture. Not only is a thorough intermixture of such supplemental air supply with the air and gas mixture discharged from the conduit insured, due to the swirling movement imparted to the latter through the action of the curved grooves in the spreader l2 and upper deflector 16, but the final mixture as it escapes through the annular space between such upper deflector and lower deflector will of course still partake of such swirling movement. This mixture will be ignited from the pilot light in the usual way and the mixture of gas and air thus discharged will therefore actually consist of the incandescent products of the ensuing combustion which will continue to have a swirling movement within the furnace chamber to the point of exit therefrom.

It will thus be seen that despite its simple construction I provide a burner which is capable of utilizing gaseous fuel in a highly eflicient manner. Furthermore, all of the parts, and particularly those which constitute the burner proper, are capable of ready assembly, thus facilitating installation of the burner in an existing hard fuel type of furnace.

Finally, by incorporating the modification illustrated in Figs. '7 and 8, the burner may be readily adapted to supply hot water in sufficient amount for ordinary household requirements.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. In a burner of the character described, the combination of a conduit for a gaseous fuel mixture arranged to discharge into a furnace chamber, a metal plate surrounding and supported by the discharge end of said conduit, an annular deflector of refractory material supported by said plate, the latter being formed with openings lying between said conduit and the-inside of said de:

flector, said metal plate having a closed passage I formed therein, and connections to such passage whereby water may be circulated therethrough.

2. In a burner of the character described, the combination of a conduit for a gaseous fuel mixture arranged to discharge into a furnace chamber, a metal plate surrounding and supported by the discharge end of said conduit, an annular deflector of refractory material resting directly on said plate, the latter being formed with openings lying between said conduitand the inside of said deflector, a second deflector also of refractory material supported in spaced relation above said first deflector, said metal plate having a passage formed therein beneath said annular deflector of refractory material, and connections to such passage whereby water may be circulated therethrough.

3. In a burner of the character described, the combination of a conduit for, a gaseous fuel mixture adapted to extend vertically into a furnace chamber, an annular refractory ring disposed coaxially and generally radially of the discharge end of said conduit, means forming openings between the latter and said ring for the flow of additional air, and a circular refractory deflector supported above the discharge end of said conduit and said ring, said circular deflector having spiral ribs and grooves extending from the center to the outer periphery of the same and being closely spaced from said ring to afford a vertically limited, substantially unobstructed, generally annular lateral escape passage therebetween effective to discharge the flaming gaseous mixture in a laterally outward swirl.

4. In a burner of the character described, the combination of a conduit for a gaseous fuel mixture adapted to extend vertically into a furnace chamber, an annular refractory ring disposed coaxially and generally radially of the discharge end of said conduit, means forming openings between the latter and said ring for the flow of additional air, and a circular refractory deflector supported above the discharge end of said conduit and ring and provided with a depending conical projection coaxial with such conduit discharge end, said circular deflector having spiral ribs and grooves extending from said conical projection to the outer periphery of the same and being closely spaced from said ring to afford a vertically limited, substantially unobstructed, generally annular lateral escape passage therebetween effective to discharge the flaming gaseous mixture in a laterally outward swirl.

5. In a burner of the character described, the

combination of a conduit for a gaseous fuel mixture adapted to discharge into a furnace chamber, an annular refractory ring disposed coaxially and generally radially of the discharge end of said conduit, means forming openings between the latter and said ring for the flow of additional air, and a circular refractory deflector supported axially above the discharge end of said conduit and said ring, said deflector and ring being closely spaced apart to provide a vertically limited, generally annular escape passage therebetween substantially unobstructed, whereby such gaseous mixture will be ejected in an even lateral spread of flame against the walls of the furnace, the under surface of said deflector being formed with grooves havingtheir upper surfaces curving upwardly and outwardly from the Center 6 of said deflector and then downwardly toward its periphery, such grooves also curving in a plane transverse to the axis of said deflector, thereby imparting a swirling movement to such laterally escaping mixture.

6. In a burner of the character described, the combination of a conduit for a gaseous fuel mixture adapted to extend vertically into a furnace chamber, an annular refractory ring disposed coaxially and generally radially of the discharge end of said conduit, means forming openings between the latter and said ring for the flow of additional air, a spreader of inverted, generally conical form supported with its smaller end opposite the discharge end of said conduit, and a circular deflector supported in turn by said spreader, said deflector having a peripheral flange directed toward said ring and closely spaced thereabove to provide a vertical limited, generally annular escape passage therebetween substantially unobstructed, whereby such gaseous mixture will be ejected in an even lateral spread of flame against the walls of the furnace, the contiguous faces of said spreader and deflector being formed with spiral grooves curving outwardly from the center of said spreader to the periphery of said deflector effective to impart a swirling movement to such laterally escaping mixture.

7. In a burner of the character described, the combination of a conduit for a gaseous fuel mixture adapted to discharge into a furnace chamber, an annular refractory ring coaxial with and extending beyond the discharge end of said conduit, means forming openings between the latter and said ring for the flow of additional air, a spreader of inverted, generally conical form supported with its smaller end opposite the discharge end of said conduit, and a circular refractory deflector of susbtantially the same diameter as said ring supported in turn by said spreader, said circular deflector having a peripheral flange directed toward said ring and closely spaced thereabove to provide a vertically limited, generally annular escape passage therebetween substantially unobstructed, whereby such gaseous mixture will be ejected in an even lateral spread of flame against the walls of the furnace, the contiguous faces of said spreader and circular deflector being formed with spiral grooves curving upwardly and outwardly from the center of said spreader and then downwardly toward the periphery of said circular deflector effective to impart a swirling movement to such laterally escaping mixture.

. JOHN E. VAN TUYL.

' REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 547,473 Ball Oct. 8, 1895 1,160,246 Blomquist NOV. 16, 1915 1,498,342 Blanchard June 17, 1924 1,851,745 Wetherbee Mar. 29, 1932 1,872,930 Goldsborough Aug. 23, 1932 2,117,944 Cochrane May 17, 1938 2,123,204 Roberts July 12, 1938 2,183,836 Gordon Dec. 19, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 41,435 The Netherlands July 16, 1937 

